Located in Cumberland, Maryland, this mural created by John P. Alderton is painted on the side of the Cumberland Times-News building. Located a short hop, skip, and jump away from the Western Maryland Railroad Station, we checked it out as soon as we got off the train.

Stepping back in time...

Tucked into a corner, this giant mural depicts Cumberland in a bygone era. I absolutely loved this painting!

Across the street, another grouping of murals by the same artist caught our attention. It's called Five Postcards

He has a website–www.aldertonart.com–and it shows some of his other work. He was born in Cumberland, Md., but there isn’t all that much personal information beyond that. The “five postcards” are particularly interesting because Cumberland was once the second largest city in Maryland, and it thrived on the transportation industry. The town was both the western terminus of the C&O Canal and a major railroad stop.

Today, bicycling and hiking are a large part of the city’s tourist trade, as the C&O Canal National Historical Park and Great Allegheny Passage meet at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Station. Whether it be scenic train, bike, or trekking poles, Cumberland has a lot to offer for all types of travelers and adventurers.